Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the
Convention (CGE)

Photo by Mel Halbach

In order to improve national communications (NCs) from developing country Parties through technical
advice and support, in 1999 the COP established the Consultative Group of Experts on National
Communications from non-Annex I Parties (CGE). This group is the key technical support element under
the Convention to assist developing country Parties in meeting their reporting obligations.

General Information

News and updates

The Conference of the Parties (COP), by decision
19/CP.19,continued the CGE for five years, from 2014–2018.

Implementing the enhanced MRV Framework for Developing Countries – contributions
of the CGE:

The CGE provided a briefing on: (1) Enhancing the understanding of the MRV Framework; (2)
Preparation of BURs to facilitate an effective and efficient technical analysis; (3)
Facilitating the conduct of the technical analysis of BURs submitted, under the international
consultation and analysis (ICA) process.

CGE Training Materials

Training materials for national communications
(NCs)

Training materials for biennial update reports
(BURs)

Training Materials for the technical analysis under the
International Consultation and Analysis (ICA) process

The CGE developed training materials to facilitate the preparation of NCs (decision 17/CP.8)
and BURs (decision 2/CP.17, annex III) in accordance with the the guidelines of the
Convention.

The CGE also developed a set of materials to train the team of technical experts nominated to
undertake the technical analysis of BURs.These materials are currently undergoing a review
process.

Meetings and Workshops

The CGE holds meetings to develop its work programme, revise its rules of procedure, assess
progress in the implementation of its work programme, provide recommendations, and more. The
CGE also organizes workshops for the preparation of NCs and BURs using the CGE training
materials.

CGE Members

The CGE is composed of 24 members: 5 each from Africa,
Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean; 6 members from Annex I Parties; one
member each from 3 international organizations, and 1 observer representing non-Annex I Parties from
Eastern Europe.

COP 18, by decision 18/CP.18, extended for a term of one year the CGE, including its current
membership. The COP also decided that the CGE, in fulfilling its mandate, shall function in
accordance with the terms of reference contained in the annex to decision 5/CP.15.

COP 15 by its decision 5/CP.15,
reconstituted the CGE for three years from 2010–2012, and mandated the Group to develop
its work programme (FCCC/SBI/2010/INF.2)
at its first meeting which was held in Bonn, Germany, from 29–31 March 2010.

COP 8 reviewed the terms of reference of the CGE. In recognition of the excellent role
that the CGE played in assisting non-Annex I Parties improve the process of the preparation
of their NCs, the COP decided to continue the mandate of the CGE for 5 years and revised its
terms of reference ( Decision 3/CP.8). Under this mandate, the objective of the CGE was to improve
the process of the preparation of the second and subsequent NCs by providing technical advice
and support to non-Annex I Parties. This mandate expired at COP 13 (December 2007).

COP5: The arrangement of provision of technical and financial support to Parties not
included in non-Annex I Parties in preparing their NCs is embedded in Article 12.7 of the
Convention. In accordance with the provisions of this Article, COP 5 established the CGE with
the objective of improving the process of preparation of NCs from non-Annex I Parties
( Decision
8/CP.5).

Contact and Feedback

For submission of national reports from non-Annex I Parties, please e-mail the secretariat:nai_nc@unfccc.int. The details on the submission
process will be communicated through this email.